A Systematic Literature Review of Complementary and Alternative Veterinary Medicine: Laser Therapy.
Authors: Millis Darryl L, Bergh Anna
Journal: Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Laser Therapy in Equine Practice – Evidence Quality Remains Inconsistent Photobiomodulation (light therapy) is widely used across equine practice for musculoskeletal injuries, neurological conditions, wounds and pain management, yet fundamental questions persist about optimal treatment protocols and genuine clinical efficacy. Millis and Bergh's systematic review of 45 studies published between 1980–2020 (20 equine-specific investigations among them) evaluated the scientific rigour of light therapy research by assessing bias risk across databases, revealing substantial methodological variation in wavelength selection, laser classification, dosage parameters, treatment frequency and duration. Whilst some studies reported beneficial effects, the overall evidence base demonstrated conflicting results and limited scientific quality, with most investigations carrying high or moderate risk of bias. The lack of standardised treatment protocols presents a significant barrier to evidence-based application in clinical settings and makes it difficult for practitioners to make informed recommendations to clients. For equine professionals considering laser therapy, this review emphasises the need for caution in extrapolating findings to practice; selecting evidence-based facilities and protocols, requesting treatment justification grounded in peer-reviewed literature, and recognising that current evidence does not support a single optimal approach across all indications or patient presentations.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Light therapy shows promise for musculoskeletal, neurologic, skin, and pain conditions in equine patients, but current evidence is insufficient to establish standardized treatment protocols
- •Variable study design and parameters across the literature make it difficult to translate research findings into clinical practice recommendations
- •Practitioners should be cautious about light therapy claims until higher-quality studies with standardized protocols establish clear efficacy and optimal treatment parameters
Key Findings
- •45 articles met inclusion criteria: 24 on dogs, 1 on cats, 20 on horses, spanning 1980-2020
- •Conflicting study results and unclear clinical application due to wide variety of treatment parameters including wavelength, laser class, dose, frequency, and duration
- •Some beneficial effects reported but limited scientific quality with high or moderate risk of bias across included studies
- •No consensus exists regarding optimal treatment protocols for light therapy or its clinical efficacy